Bishop Watterson Looks Ahead After District Finals Loss

Columbus — Following their loss to rival St. Francis DeSales in the Division III district championship, emotions ran high in the Bishop Watterson locker room. Head Coach Vince Lombardo addressed the seven seniors on the roster with a message of gratitude, before turning his attention to the returning players, emphasizing progress and growth for next season. His words set a tone of reflection, focused on the future rather than dwelling on devastation and heartbreak.

Simply put, the game didn’t break in their favor. Cold shooting early put them in a 19-point hole by the end of the first quarter. Though they battled back to cut the deficit to 10 by halftime, the early damage proved too much to overcome, something Lombardo readily acknowledged.

“Tonight, just started badly. The kids battled back and I think after that really bad start, the game played the way we had wanted from the outset,” he explained. “We just couldn’t get out of that hole.”

Bishop Watterson finishes the 2024-25 season with a 17-8 overall record and will return up to six players from this year’s varsity squad. In the district championship, the Eagles were led by senior Dominic Theado, who delivered a strong performance with 15 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Carter Bellisari added five points and seven rebounds to the effort.

Led by Theado and Bellisari, the Eagles controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 27-23. However, turnovers proved costly, as they lost that battle 10-4 to DeSales, a factor that played a key role in the defeat along with cold shooting stretches.

Watterson didn’t play poorly. They were just as capable of winning as DeSales. But sports can be unforgiving, and sometimes the shots don’t fall. Despite falling short at districts, Lombardo believes Bishop Watterson put together a strong season overall.

“I thought we played pretty good, consistent basketball for the most part,” he reflected. “We had one really bad game with Hartley, otherwise we played pretty good throughout the season.”

Instead of dwelling on the “what-ifs,” the Eagles are turning their attention to a new chapter filled with youthful potential. Lombardo took a moment to honor the contributions of Watterson’s senior class, reflecting on their lasting impact on the program.

“Our seniors have been a great group. They have been in the program for four years and put in so much dedication and hard work,” he said. “We had that many seniors working together and accepting roles. They did an awesome job.”

Looking to next season, Lombardo sees potential and talent in his returning players. “I think we have some talented young guys coming back next year, and some of them played a role in things this year,” he said. “I think we have a bright future if we get to work. We have some work to do, but I think there is definitely potential there.”